The centenary of World War I and what the RAF Museum–London is doing about it

The centenary of World War I and what the RAF Museum–London is doing about it

The war to end all wars, the war which toppled and remade kingdom and country, the war which has us pause every 11th of November began a century ago this year, 2014. The Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum–London is making a new exhibit on honor of the WW I century recognition and it is going to be a splendid as well as significant. Perhaps the world’s best assemblage of World War I aircraft are soon to be exhibited in the Graham–White Factory of which a quarter of the UK’s first aircraft factory has been preserved at the RAF Museum–London.

Graham–White Factory at the RAF Museum–London — used with permission of Ross Sharp (and copyright holder)

Claude Graham–White built his factory with the USD$31,000 he won at the 1910 Harvard–Boston Aero Meet. It is a beautiful structure and will be the best of display environments for the museum’s WW I aircraft exhibit — which will begin this December and last four years. Aircraft from other RAF Museum branches have been brought to the Shropshire Restoration Facility to get them into shape for this most special of exhibitions. A Sopwith Pup, Bristol M1c and Sopwith 1½ Strutter are under restoration for the exhibit as this is written.

Graham–White Factory interior prior to March 2013 at the RAF Museum–London — used with permission of Ross Sharp (and copyright holder)

Fokker D.VIIa at the RAF Museum–London — used with permission of Ross Sharp (and copyright holder)

Fokker D.VIIa at the RAF Museum–London — used with permission of Ross Sharp (and copyright holder)

Sopwith Camel at the RAF Museum–London — used with permission of Ross Sharp (and copyright holder)

Crossley Tender at the RAF Museum–London — used with permission of Ross Sharp (and copyright holder)

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Ross Sharp, of Shortfinals’s Blog, was onto this story before it broke on the BBC and has also shared a handful of his images for this post.